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Coutts takes positives from Glasgow slump

Liam FitzGibbon

Of the 13 silver medals Alicia Coutts has won on the international stage, few have been more satisfying.

Coutts, Australia's star in Delhi four years ago, relinquished another of her Commonwealth Games titles when she finished second behind England's Siobhan O'Connor in Sunday's 200m individual medley final.

But Coutts was relieved to have an individual medal to show for her efforts at a meet where she lost her "sparkle" due to the lingering effects of a bacterial infection.

"It wasn't my best time but it was the best I could do tonight," said Coutts, who clocked two minutes and 10.30 seconds behind O'Connor (2:08.21).

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"I've sort of accepted that this isn't the meet for me and I tried to be as relaxed as I could going into it.

"I gave it everything I had and my coach (John Fowlie) said it's the best silver medal race I've swum."

Coutts missed medals in the 100m and 50m butterfly but won gold as part of the 4x200m freestyle relay team, despite being well below her best.

A visit to the Australian team doctor on Saturday night confirmed Coutts was still feeling the effects of a stomach problem.

It's convinced 26-year-old Coutts that Glasgow won't signal her demise as a force at big meets.

"I guess to have that reassurance from the doctor ... it was kind of like `it's not actually me, it's something I can't control'," Coutts said.

"I had to just come here and give everything I had and I think I've done that.

"I'll walk away from the meet disappointed I didn't get to defend any of my titles but still happy that I was able to step up and give it everything.

"I know I didn't have anything left in the tank at the end of the meet."

Coutts is unlikely to compete in the medley relay after Emma McKeon beat her in the 100m butterfly.